Montessori education information from a Montessori teacher and Mom. Personal art work and journal entries about my life as a busy Mom of three sons ranging in age from 7 years to 21 years.
My hope: To create a place where parenting questions can be answered and conversations as well as ideas shared.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Magic of Boxes

Recently my husband (and many wonderful friends and family) chipped in to buy me a Sleep Number bed! It was such a lovely thoughtful thing to do and I am very happy heading to bed each night now that I know my sleep number (it's 30 buy the way). Anyway, the bed arrived in several parts and in several BIG cardboard boxes.My two younger boys were thrilled to have these new rooms to play in. Immediately these boxes were transformed into rockets and dog houses, it was amazing. The markers came out and windows were drawn in, a drooling dog was even seen peeking from the 'outside' looking in longingly, and a rug was colored in on the 'floor' of the new 'dog house' box, making it all very home like and inviting. And the rocket box (piloted by a plump toddler) shook and quaked (a bit too realistically for Mom), as my 9 year old's imagination took off!I just gotta say, I love my bed but I love a nice big cardboard box too. It had been way too long since one had been around here. Boxes are an open-ended construction material, for young children, something becomes real just because they choose to use it that way. A box can be a car, a clubhouse, a spaceship, a cave.

And a box allows kids total control over their own space with everything they love close at hand. Rooms can seem overwhelmingly large to someone 3 feet 3 inches tall.So the next time you get the opportunity to bring a big box home, give your kids the box, break out the markers and imagination, who knows what your box will become! Don't forget to get inside the box yourself, you'll be so happy you did.

Thanks 'Herself', they are shaping up to be good buddies, I'm so happy. I remember making outdoor spaces of my own too. Mostly with piles of pine needles in my back yard, but also couch cushions and blankets draped over the coffee table. So much fun to be small. Thanks for the comment!

Playdough Recipe

Play Dough Recipe

2 cups flour1 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tarter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cup water

a few drops of your choice of food coloring

Heat on stove, watching it and stirring, until nice consistency, it will become very difficult to stir and clump together this is the point you can turn it out onto a floured counter.Knead. Cool and store in closed container to avoid drying out.

Children LOVE it! Parents and teachers rave!

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When I Make Silence by Jennifer Howard

my first published work

My Dream List

to hug a red wood tree

to travel

to voice a cartoon character

Pause a while, ponder a moment and then begin again.

Pen and pastel by MM

Interviews:

I was interviewedby Jean VantHul over atThe Artful Parent. And I am excited to share it with all of you. I hope you stop by to read it. The Artful Parent is one of my favorite crafty blogs. Stop by and check it out!Hugs to all,~~MM

Copyright notice:

Please feel free to use all of the ideas here for your family, friends, or school, but kindly refrain from selling any ideas or items made from tutorials for profit. I would love it if you linked to my posts, providing the appropriate credit for the content. Any other inquiries please email me at zodijen@gmail.com thank you! MM

Wise words

"The greatest challenge we all face as spiritual nurturers is to become attuned to the young child's authentic spirituality, which--unlike our own-- is still such an integrated part of life...children's exuberant spirituality is reflected in everything they do....a child shows us the extraordinary in the ordinary. Our task as spiritual nurturers becomes easier when we realized that we do not have to instill spirituality in a child, we have only to protect it from being trampled and to nourish its natural growth."-----Aline D Wolf, from Nurturing the Spirit